Hamas is stepping up the psychological warfare, claiming captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is observing Ramadan.
Reuters
The Hamas-affiliated Ar-Risala website reported Wednesday that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has decided to fast during Ramadan.
The report comes as talks have stalled between Hamas and Israel over the possible exchange of hundreds of prisoners for Shalit, who was captured in a 2006 raid.
The report seemed to be intended to increase pressure on the Israeli government, whose prime minister has faced criticism over his perceived failure to prioritize reaching a deal with Hamas.
“A popular proverb goes that if one lives in a community for more 40 days, he becomes one of them. This seems to have come true in the Gaza Strip,” the report in Ar-Risala said.
After years in Gaza, Shalit has become “embarrassed to ask for food during Ramadan despite the fact that his captors do not deny him that right,” the report, in Arabic, continued.
Shalit thinks the government “lost interest,” it said, and he “abandoned Jewish traditions to mimic Muslims after the good treatment he received from his captors, even while they are fasting.”
The Israeli government, added Ar-Risala, is too busy with the demonstrations and protests in Tel Aviv, and so Shalit could not hear recently on Israel’s Channel 1 TV station any news about him.
The report claims Shalit noticed the protests against housing problems became too big, and that caused him “depression and disappointment. He lost hope of any prisoner swap deal that can secure his freedom.”
He seems to be saying, “Shalit wants to topple the regime,” the report claimed.
Notice how Hamas can’t even lie in a believable way. On one hand, Shalit is fasting due to embarrassment with eating in front of his Muslim captors. On the other hand, he wants to mimic Muslims in appreciation of the supposedly good treatment he’s received at the hands of his captors, especially when compared to the shabby treatment he has received at the hands of the Israeli government.
Can they at least make their minds up?
I propose that if Hamas truly believes Shalit wants to “topple the regime”, they should release him and allow him to try.
A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
